Point tenderness

Alternative names:

McBurney's point

Home care:

Consult your health care provider.

Call your health care provider if:

• point tenderness occurs.

Note: Any person with point tenderness should be examined promptly by the health care provider!

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting point tenderness in detail may include:

• time pattern
  • When did the abdominal pain associated with this point tenderness develop?
  • Is this the first time that this kind of discomfort has occurred?
  • If it has occurred before, have you noticed any pattern to the occurrences?

• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • Is there vomiting?
  • Is there rebound tenderness (the tenderness is worse when the area is gently pressed and then the pressure is suddenly released).
  • Is there diarrhea or constipation?
  • Is there a fever?

The physical examination will include a detailed abdominal examination.

Diagnostic testing may include:

• abdominal film
• abdominal CT scan (occasionally)
• laboratory tests such as a CBC

Interventions:
Sometimes, the history and physical examination will indicate a need for immediate surgery (an exploratory laparotomy or an emergency appendectomy).

Pain medication can disguise signs and symptoms of appendicitis and other disorders. For this reason, pain medications are often NOT given to people with abdominal pain until all examination and testing is completed.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to point tenderness to your personal medical record.